Autovía A-8
Encyclopedia
The Autovía A-8 is a highway (autovía
) that connects all the regions on the Northern Coast of Spain
. It is known as the Autovía del Cantábrico
(also known as "Transcantábrica" in Galicia) and connects Baamonde (Lugo-Galicia) and Bilbao
, where it continues as the Autopista AP-8
to the French border. The road passes Ribadeo, Gijón, Santander
, Bilbao
and San Sebastián
.
), Llanes-Unquera (between Asturias and Cantabria
) and a new bypass of Torrelavega
. Geological and geographical difficulties have caused the construction budget to high rocket.
to Muskiz
.
range, as there is no physical space to build it elsewhere.
Autovía
An autovía is one of two classes of major highway in the Spanish road system similar to a motorway. It is akin to the autopista, the other major highway class, but has fewer features and is never a toll road. Some distinguishing features of an autovía are that it must be divided by a median, it...
) that connects all the regions on the Northern Coast of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It is known as the Autovía del Cantábrico
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
(also known as "Transcantábrica" in Galicia) and connects Baamonde (Lugo-Galicia) and Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, where it continues as the Autopista AP-8
Autopista AP-8
The Autopista AP-8 is a highway in the north of Spain and crosses the Basque Country from east to west. It is known as the Autopista del Cantábrico and connects the French Border with Bilbao...
to the French border. The road passes Ribadeo, Gijón, Santander
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
, Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
and San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
.
Works
Most of this infrastructure is already open to traffic (about 80% of its length). Completion is expected in a maximum of 4 years. Pending stretches under construction are: Vilalba-Reinante (province of Lugo), Tapia-Otur (AsturiasAsturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
), Llanes-Unquera (between Asturias and Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
) and a new bypass of Torrelavega
Torrelavega
Torrelavega is a municipality and important industrial and commercial hub in the single province Autonomous Community of Cantabria in northern Spain....
. Geological and geographical difficulties have caused the construction budget to high rocket.
Bilbao area
Currently the A-8 is also the main beltway of the Greater Bilbao conurbation, which has about a million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. This causes great traffic congestion along the stretch of 30 kilometers of the highway that passes by Bilbao and its metropolitan area, from GaldakaoGaldakao
Galdakao is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.It is located in the Greater Bilbao, in the valley of the Ibaizabal river, near the Ganguren mountain range...
to Muskiz
Muskiz
Muskiz is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.- Neighborhoods :Muskiz is administratively divided into six neighborhoods or wards:- Demography :- Economy :...
.
Supersur
A new toll bypass of the city, known as Supersur is being built. The bypass will be 36 km long and most of its length will be tunnels under the PagasarriPagasarri
Pagasarri is one of the two small mountain ranges that encloses the city of Bilbao, Basque Country and is part of the Basque Mountains. Its main peak separates the municipality of Bilbao from Arrigorriaga and Alonsotegi, and has an elevation of 673 m...
range, as there is no physical space to build it elsewhere.